Last week I was on vacation. We went to Philadelphia to see our dear niece Birdie graduate from high school. Afterward, we drove through New Jersey, Connecticut and spent some lovely days in Newport, R.I as well as Sag Harbor and the Hamptons, N.Y. I am SO eager to share the wonder and beauty with you all. Alas, while on vacation I received a notice from Siteground the company that provides the WordPress hosting service for the DTA website. They want to triple their fees to continue their service for the next year. Since we are rapidly approaching having to pay for Sweet Guy’s college I am questioning my little hobby here. Is It The End Of Decor To Adore?
Is It The End Of Decor To Adore?
When I began DTA in 2008 it was a blogspot blog. Indeed I still have the rights to www.decortoadore.blogspot.com. In July of 2017, I moved over to WordPress. I have LOVED it! The difference is like trading in your broken down Pinto for a beautiful Rolls Royce.
I have about a week to figure it out. I am in panic mode saving all the posts I have written for the past two years. Given that I am not very tech savvy to say I am stressed out would be a bit of an understatement. So many of you have been with me on this wonderful journey for the entire 13 years and have become heartfelt friends. But even those who have just recently come on board are truly cherished. Either way, you deserve to know that Decortoadore.net may be ending.
If I cannot find an affordable WordPress solution I may have to go back to the Pinto err blogspot.
So make a note that if in the next two weeks you cannot find Decortoadore.net it may have reverted to decortoadore.blogspot.com.
Because either way there is still more joy in the journey.
I am TOTALLY open to any help someone can provide. If you have a WordPress blog/website and have a good and reasonable hosting service let me know.
Meanwhile, I will be blindly searching through options holding out hope.
Laura
Ohhhh…this is definitely not good news. I do hope you can find a reasonable way to continue or can at least manage in the poor rusty pinto for a little while longer.
I really appreciate all the lovely posts you create as well as the many hours (days) you invest in your blog. I know you are not taking this lightly.
Please keep us posted. {{{hugs}}}
Have you considered a go fund me? I could give you some cash to keep this going. I can’t be the only fan who wants to help.
Hi Sarah I have always wanted DTA to be a gift for others to enjoy. My hope is that someone with WordPress hosting knowledge can advise me on a better priced plan.
Oh know I hope you figure something out. I started following not to long ago and I enjoy your blog very much.
Cindy
I was so upset by your Insta post, thought a tornado had hit Storybook Cottage!
If you have to come back to blogspot, well, we’ll find you. Content over character, function beats form!
The storm did hit us pretty hard. Sweet Guy and I started the day cleaning up TONS of debris and still have tons more clean up from yesterdays storm.
Hello Laura. I am so sorry to hear this. I unfortunately I do not know anything about this tech stuff. I sure hope things work out. The Hamptons are beautiful! I moved from Long Island to Florida 22 yrs ago . I was lucky to have spent many special times exploring the Island. Every season has something special to offer. I have a special love for the North Shore.
I’m still driving the broken down Pinto (10 years coming in October!) I hope you continue as I love reading your blog. Let us know where you’re headed so we can find you.
Oh no…I have Siteground as well and have not seen that email. Ugh. I wish I had some advice…because apparently I need some too! Good luck!
Shelley
LOL, I am still with Blogspot and I love it! Things have changed for the better. If you need help with that transition, I have the perfect girl for you! Let me know!
Oh I so hope you continue, I always love to find out what you are up to and enjoy your posts so much. Check out GO Daddy, they host my hubby’s web site and they are truly so reasonable. Of course I am still on blogger and I love it. You can have blogger connect your blogspot.com to our .net like I do. That is really easy.
I sure hope you’re able to continue. I would miss you if you had to close up! I’m on WordPress, but it is their free plan. The only negative is that they place their ads on my posts – mostly viewed on cell phones, not so much on the computer version, as far as I can tell. I’m about to need to do something different, because I’ve about reached my storage maximum – but it took me almost 13 years of blogging to do that. I’m looking at their paid plans, which run $3, 5, or 8. It says a domain name comes with that, but it’s free only for a year and then renews at “regular prices” – whatever those are. So I have some investigating and pondering to do as well.
One other option would be to run ads on your site. I know, I hate that thought,too – I’ve always wanted my blog to be ad-free. But as a reader, I don’t mind ads in the sidebar or between posts, as long as they are still and not videos. It’s disturbing and distracting to have a moving ad somewhere while I am trying to read. I also don’t mind finding paid posts on the blogs I read as long as it’s clear at the outset that’s what they are.
Laura, I’m sorry for this conflict. You always share joy and positivity. Whatever direction you choose, you will continue to bless and uplift us. Be brave gal. Love, MarySue
Oh this breaks my heart! I haven’ gotten a notice about fee increases. I am with Bluehost and I have been happy with them.
Hi Laura,
Hope you don’t have extensive damage from the storm, we are at Cedar Creek and we lost two trees last night. The wind was so high that it just took them by the roots out of the ground. I hope you will continue your blog and going back to blogspot is not that bad, that is where I started and am still on the blogger frame. I have heard so many people who are leaving word press and going back to blogger, because of the cost and blogger does not have nearly as many problems as word press. Best wishes for your continued pursuit of your hobby that brings so many pleasure!
Miz Helen
I will have to weigh the cost in the future, too. Hope you find a good resolution!
Oh no! I’ve been driving the Pinto and it works alright.. that being said I haven’t driven the Rolls Royce so I have no idea what I’ve been missing out on.
http://www.henatayeb.blogspot.com
Laura, I truly love your blog and the inspiration I find here. I should connect with you more often. That being said, I use Go Daddy. You pay one fee to host your domain name. And another fee for them to run your wordpress site. I have found their rates to be reasonable and if your budget is tight you can pay 6 months at a time or up to 3 years at a time for cheaper rates. I hope something works out for you.
Rachel
OH, don’t you just hate that? Seems rather greedy to me.
I have my own dot com – but use blogger and have them attached……granted I don’t post much these days, but it’s worked out well enough.
Good luck – remember driving an old car is always better than not driving at all.
Hugs to you, dear Laura. ♥
I have a .com with blogger too. I like it rather than having blogspot because it sounds a little more professional. I’m so sorry this has happened. I’d hate for you to disappear.
Can you link this to Keep In Touch tomorrow? Others may be affected by this too.
Oh dear, the blog must go on! I would be quite contented to ride along in the rusty Pinto. Better than nothing! I so enjoy your posts on decorating, family happenings, travel, and especially costuming. And with Costume College coming up! I’m not tech savvy at all, so I can’t help in that department. Keeping my fingers crossed for you!
well Laura, I’m still driving the Pinto, and while it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles that the Rolls has, it still gets me where I’m going. I’ve thought I might migrate to WordPress many times, but I’ve had so many times that I didn’t know if I could continue blogging, I’ve just stayed put. I still make money and I pay for my email notification, a few dollars a month to Google support, and a few dollars a year for extra photo storage. All in all it’s not much and since I’m not trying to glide through Manhattan and impress anyone, I think it’s a good alternative to throwing in the towel. (mixing a bunch of metaphors, here) If you want to stay blogging, take your dot com and just move back to Blogger. you don’t have to be “blogspot.com” There are a lot of us still out there., and still feel somewhat relevant. I hope you decide to keep blogging, Laura, you have great creativity, humor, and we all look forward to hearing from you!
Look at GoDaddy. They hosted my WordPress site initially, then I switched to SiteGround at my web developers suggestion due to an issue with my email. But I think GoDaddy would be find. Siteground isn’t terribly expensive unless your monthly visitors jumped up to put you in the Geek level. But, you should call them to discuss it because maybe there are things you can do to lower the cost. Good luck!
Laura, don’t quit and don’t switch back. I have always had Bluehost and have always been pleased with their service and support. I have no idea what you have paid Siteground, but Bluehost is pennies. You pay for 3 years at a time. I looked up my account and I renewed last August for 3 years for the plus hosting. If you want to know the exact amount, let me know and I’ll send you a screen shot. Hint: less than $3 a month.
I sure hope you will find a way to continue your sweet blog. Mark and I are going to Connecticut, Rhode Island and Cape Cod for our 30th Anniversary in October . What houses did you tour n Newport? We went to Newport five years ago and our jaws dropped repeatedly during tours of the gorgeous mansions.
I’ve been on Blogger for ten years. No problems. I back up my blog every few months. I’ve also had actual books made twice a year through Blog To Print. Good luck-I’d hate to see you go!!
Jane x
For those with only a bus pass, a Pinto seems like a Rolls! Blogspot is better than no spot. – here’s hoping you find a solution, and peace in the process. JM
Hi Laura…I am on SiteGround and did not received any emails with regard to a price change….I wonder if they changed the pricing of just one level…
Glad you have blogspot to go back on…..I think you can just copy and paste the text on some of your fav posts and when you decide to re-post..you can…
I hope you can work it out, Laura, because it is gorgeous and I would hate to see it change. That said, Blogger has evolved in the years since you started here so before you lose it take a little time to check out how it might work for you. It is free, after all, and there’s a fair amount of flexibility.
Hi Laura, I’ve used blogspot since 2013 and I’m now in my 7th year. It has its quirks but it is free and since this is a hobby and I make no money from my blog, I am OK with Blogspot. I did purchased my domain name (mycookieclinic.com) so I could get rid of “.blogspot” in my blog name. My annual fee to Go Daddy is very inexpensive. I hope you decide to keep blogging if you still enjoy it.
I would never have left Blogger if my ad network had not asked me to due to some coding thing with Blogger. I have been using Liquid Web for a year and a half. I pay $69 a month, so I’m probably no help at all. However I really like them because I can call them on the phone 24/7. And after the trouble I had when I was first on WP, it is worth it to me to know they’re right there if I need them. It is called Managed WP and they do other things for you.
Brenda